Latest update: 18/06/2010

World Day to combat desertification

As the UN marks the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, people in Rajasthan, northern India, are suffering from one of the worst droughts in decades. There are fears the local economy will suffer as the yearly monsoon season has been delayed.

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By Constantin SIMON

19/11/2009 - EUROPEAN UNION

Speculation and divisions abound as leaders prepare to pick President

Tonight, leaders from the European Union's 27 member states are getting together in Brussels to pick the first-ever permanent President. How will the leaders be making the decision?

18/11/2009 - ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

The US has voiced dismay at the approval of new settlement builds in annexed east Jerusalem, which once again stalls the fragile Mideast peace process. Tensions are already high ahead of upcoming presidential elections in the Palestinian territories.

18/11/2009 - JUSTICE

How do you stop repeat sex offenders?

French lawmakers are debating the issue of repeat sex offenders, and considering a proposal for prisoners to be given the option of longer jail terms or undergoing hormonal treatment. Focus also looks at how other countries handle this problem.

17/11/2009 - TRADE

Bridging the gap between China and the US

The presidents of China and the US have both vowed to fight protectionism and heal the imbalance in their economic relations, but it is still unclear how they plan to bridge a growing rift on trade.

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17/11/2009 - PAKISTAN

Controversy surrounds govt move to lease agricultural land to Saudi

In Pakistan where the food crisis is worsening, the government has decided to lease hundreds of thousands of hectares of farmland to Saudi Arabia, which would be used to produce food for the Saudi market.